Today was her first full day at home and she enjoyed herself, slept, ate and slept again. Night times alone are hard when you are used to sleeping with so many siblings, but adjustments will come. She knows how to use her "puppy dog eyes" to melt the hearts of every member in this family.
I do believe she's a keeper! Welcome Jasmine!!
This unique plant was there to greet us. They are known to come up through the snow and we were surprised to see one in June. Can anyone tell us its name?
Nic is learning to Captain the boat this year, so he was given the responsibility of shouting out the orders on this adventure. One of his first commands was to "hoist the Rebel Battle flag!".
Jonathan was First Mate. He does not answer to the name Gilligan. Please notice the perfect knot that Jonathan has tied to the dock cleat.
Long pants and flannel?? This was our coldest sailing trip ever. No one got into the water.
We brought two vehicles with differing departure times on this venture. While some sailed, others ate.
The camping was just as cold as the sailing. We promised Tiffany that California was a warm place. Boys in shorts, girls in blankets. What are we to deduce from this photo?
How does this thing go up?
Most camping fatalities are the result of dehydration. We won't be having any of that on this trip.
The clouds parted in the afternoon, things warmed up just enough to make for a pleasant outing.
Y is for yacht.
The boat is beached, her sails are furled. They tell me that the cat is a boy, which I can accept, but why is the boat a girl?
Cooking chicken on an open fire, the oak at our feet used to be the tree in our front yard. How we miss that tree!
This is what chicken rolled in Cheez-it crumbs looks like.
This is how Ben feels about it. Some of the others liked it.
Thomas likes to keep his teeth clean, even if there is no sink. What's that in the tree?
Thomas finally gave in and adjusted his attire to match the weather.
Tiff and Sara take Ben for a ride. Chivalry is dead.
If you set the camera correctly, an afternoon jaunt can be made to look like a romantic moonlit voyage.
It may be unknown as to how many angels will fit on the head of a pin, but we know how many Hectors will fit in one chair.
Is Thomas deep in thought? Will the seedling survive? Do red sweatpants go with a blue hoody?
Green corn husks make for a smoky fire. There is a chair in this photo, but you can't see it because it's camouflaged.
The corn husks have all burned away, let us warm our bones by the fire.
We are warmer now, and ready for bed.
Nic was giving rides early next morning. There was quite a bit of sailing done on the second day, but the winds were so fierce out of the Northeast that all hands were busy and the cameras stayed below deck.
While we were packing up, Sara found the bubble wand.
The winds will power a sailboat and they will float a soapy bubble. The wind is just one small part of God's magnificent creation. We use it as a tool and as a toy. Be sure to remember who creates the wind when you feel it against your face.